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Silencing Pauline Hanson 'Absolutely The Wrong Idea', George Brandis Says

The Attorney-General wants Hanson included in the national conversation.
George Brandis says Pauline Hanson's views are shared by many in Australia.
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George Brandis says Pauline Hanson's views are shared by many in Australia.

Attorney-General George Brandis says Pauline Hanson should be included in the national conversation rather than "silenced" as the controversial Queensland politician prepares to enter the senate next month.

Speaking on Sunday, Brandis labelled it as "absolutely the wrong idea" to snuff out the voices of people like Hanson because they reflected the views of a significant number of Australian voters.

"500,000 [people] voted for Pauline Hanson. She's now a member of the Senate. The way to deal with these people is to explain why they are wrong," Senator Brandis told the ABC.

"To pretend that Pauline Hanson is not part of the national conversation ... is ludicrous."

When Parliament returns on August 30, senator-elect Hanson is likely to be joined by One Nation senators from NSW and Western Australia.

The One Nation team will enter the Senate after winning nearly 200,000 votes -- nine percent of the vote -- in Queensland.

Hanson's return to federal politics comes after she recently reiterated claims that Australia was being "swamped" by Asians and pushed her support for a Royal Commission into Islam.

Labor senator Sam Dastyari is one parliamentarian who has said he fears the effect of One Nation on the new parliament.

In the television appearance on Sunday Brandis also cautioned against using throwing around the term "terrorism" in the wake of the attack in Munich that left 10 people, including the shooter, dead.

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